It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play

Adapted by Joe Landry

based on the story 'The Greatest Gift'

by Philip Van Doren Stern

Directed by Donna Badtke

Music Directed by Suzanne Stalker

When:

Auditions Dates - Sun, Oct 4 (2pm) & Mon, Oct 5 (7pm)

Performance Dates - December 11-13, 2026

   Friday & Saturday - 7:00 PM, Sunday matinee - 3:00 PM

Rehearsals (tentative, subject to change)

In October, rehearsals will be Sunday afternoons (1-3) & Wednesday evenings (6-8).

In November & December, rehearsals will switch to

Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday evenings (6-9). 

   *No rehearsal on Thanksgiving (11/26).

Who: 

Adults, Teens, and Youth (6 & up)

What: 

Prepare to sing an acapella song of your choice (like a simple Christmas Carol). 

Song should be short in length (only 1 verse) or a cut of a song.

If you would like to use a background track, we will have a bluetooth speaker available for you to connect to.

There will also be readings from the script. 

Where: 

Audition Location

CAC (Christian Arts Centre) - Chapel on the Hill campus, N2490 Cisco Rd, Lake Geneva WI

Rehearsal & Performance Location

'Lakeland Players' Historic Sprague Theater

15 W Walworth St, Elkhorn, WI 53121

Any questions about auditions, email christianperformingartscom@gmail.com

*Although there are many characters in the show, there are generally only a handful of actors that play ALL the many roles!  Click the link below to see one example of the character/casting assignments.

BREAKDOWN OF  CHARACTER ASSIGNMENTS

*Characters:

STAGE MANAGER
FREDDIE FILMORE (ALSO CALLED ANNOUNCER) – The actor playing Joseph and others
JAKE LAURENTS – The actor playing George
SALLY APPLEWHITE – The actress playing Mary
LANA SHERWOOD – The actress playing Violet and others
HARRY “JAZZBO” HEYWOOD – The actor playing Clarence and others
MARY HATCH – George’s girl
ROSE BAILEY – George’s mother
HARRY BAILEY – George’s kid brother
OLD MAN GOWER – A druggist
BERT – A cop
VIOLET BICK – A small-town siren
HENRY F. POTTER – The richest and meanest man in all the county
BILLY BAILEY – George’s uncle
PETE – George’s son
ZUZU – George’s daughter
CLARENCE – George’s guardian angel
JOSEPH – The superintendent of angels
YOUNG GEORGE – George as a child
YOUNG HARRY – Harry as a child
YOUNG VIOLET – Violet as a child
YOUNG MARY – Mary as a child
GEORGE BAILEY – A typical American dreamer
PETER BAILEY – George’s father
ERNIE – A cab driver
SAM WAINWRIGHT – An entrepreneur
OLD MAN COLLINS – An eavesdropper
DR. CAMPBELL – On the board of the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan
MATILDA – Secretary at Bailey Bros. Building & Loan
RUTH DAKIN BAILEY– Harry’s wife
MRS. HATCH – Mary’s mother
ED – At the run on the bank
CHARLIE – At the run on the bank
MAN (AT RUN ON BANK)
MRS. THOMPSON – At the run on the bank
SCHULTZ – A German at the Martini house dedication
MARTINI – An Italian bar/restaurant owner
HORACE THE TELLER – At the bank
SADIE VANCE – The state bank examiner
JANIE – George’s daughter
TOMMY – George’s son
MR. WELCH – A schoolteacher’s husband with a temper
NICK – A bartender

BINKY – A bouncer

RESTAURANT PATRONS
MAN (AT MARTINI’S)
BRIDGE KEEPER
COP
SHERIFF

BOYS

BOARD MEMBERS

About the show:

This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. When an angel, Clarence, shows him the positive impact he has had on his family and the people around him George realizes that he is loved.